Gauging and lifting mechanism for implements



3. 4 9 l L. 3 u. A

S T N E M E L P. M I R O F M s m .G` N I T F I L G. N M U A G 3 Sheets-Sheet 1- QN- NN- MN- @Q M -NN m O: m: 8 m 8% mm3 nu Q S.

INVENTOR: WALTER H. s VER A ORNEYS.

Aug. 31, 1943.

w. H. SILVER GAUGING AND LIFTING MECHANISM FOR IMPLEMENTS Filed Sept. 28, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR: WALTER H. S VER A RNEYS.

Aus. 31, 1943. w. H. SILVER l 2,328,113

GAUGING A ND LIFTING MElIHANISM FOR IMPLEMENTS Filed Sept. 28, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR: WALTER H. SILVER Patented Aug. 31, 1943 n `Gammo AND mF'rINGtMECnANrsM rolt IMPLEMENTS, t

Walter H; SilvenMoline, Illalassignor:to-Deererir` Company, Moline, '11l.,

nois

a,` corporation of' Illia t Application September 28, 1939, SenalNo; 296",'-925;-

' co1.k swf-4a 24 Claims:

The present invention relatesgenerally to ag'- ricultural implements and more particularlyto plows, listers and other soil Working implements. which are provided with a tool ortools the, depth of operation of which is governed or controlled by ground engaginggauge means,V such aslgauge wheelsor the like. t

The object andygeneral nature of the present n invention is the provision of a simplified mechanism embodying `a single member operatively connectedwith the gauge means andthe supportlng frame so that apart of the movement of said member serves tor/adjust the position of the gauge.

wheels', thereby,` determining depth of' penetration, while another movemnt of the same'mem'- ber serves; to liftl boththe tooland the gauge means out of` groundfengaging position. It' is a `feature of thepresent invention to provide means operative through one range of movementzto adjust the depthof operation and `operative through another range vof movement to raise both the` tool means and the gauge means into transport posi-` tion.` More specifically,` `it is a feature of this invention to provide means y first `j reacting against theA gaugel Wheelfor. raising the tool beam and thereafter reacting againstthe supporting means;`

`whichmay 'be a tractor or the like, to raise'both the tool` beam and the gauge means,`and so constructed and arrangedthat the gauge means is then preventing from moving any substantial amount relative to the tool beam. t

y A further object is to"disposethev gauge means slightly lower thanthe tool means when the latterl is raised so as to protect the points fro accidental contact with the ground;

` y `An additional feature of the presentinvention in this connection `is A the provision of means in the nature ofr a togglelinka'ge between the tool `beam and thegauge wheel and arranged so that movement or the toggle linkage into a substantially dead-center relationshipservesfto adjust the position'ofthe tool beam relative to the gauge wheel, further'movement of the linkage occasioning little additional movement of thegauge wheel but serving to raisebothlthe toolfbeamand the gauge wheel. In other words; the linkage isfarrangediso that first-thegauge wheel is adjusted and then, when thefgauge wheel and toolbeam are raised together, is held againstfany further `materialmovement relative to the tool beam.

More specifically, it is a feature of this" invention to providea hand lift `which through a part of.` its movement serves to adjust the depth of operation while the remainingfmovement ofthe hand lift mechanism serves to raise the tool beam and the associatedgaugingjmeans oif the ground.

An'` additional' feature of' this inventionisl the pro vision of a toggllink'age or theiequivalentj he:-

tween.' the gauge means and tool beam' and a lost motion connection between the; adjusting` means and theimplement frameor other supf porting" means; wherebyA movement o'f y the actu--i t ating mechanism-or means'through'one range olf' movement'can effectL its function without affecte' presentinvention'will'be' apparentfto those skilledJ i in the arty after av consideration of` the-fol'lowir'ijgA detailed' description `ofv the preferred structure-,g taken in conjunction :with they accompanying drawings; l y Inthe drawings: l t

Figure 11 isa top View of a machine in-whieh the'principles ofithe present inventionfhave been incorporated; n I

Figure 2 is a sideview ofthe machine `shown in Figure l; and l Figures- Sand@y are-views similar'toiligure 2 4but showingtheparts in'dilerentpositionsf Referring now to the drawings; more` particu'- larly Figures l and* `2'; Aitw'l-l;l"-be s'eenthat 'the present inventionis` embodied' in afA lister or mid'- dlebreaker of the single bottonetype;V Tlietr'ae'- for t0 Which'the tool is" attaohedisindieatedin dotted` lines =byy theA referencef numeral I and4 in general-includes afrarne-Z,V a-transmissien housingv 3' and a rear axlehousing 411 carryinglaxl shafts 5 on which rear wheels 6 are The lister or middlebreaker bottom-isfindicated atvl l0 bar structure indicated;V inxits entirety f b"yfrefer` ence *numeral I IE- The latterf includes ai' pair 'of generally; longitudinally" extending` frameA mem.; bers`|2 "and lh'avingjl rearwardlyl convergingsec'- tions Hand I5`fto which'the plow bottemlstand f 2| (Figurel) whicl'areesecur'ed atitheir-forward v endsl to the frame-bars' l2" and `I S'by/boltsiand which, at their'rear ends, extenddownwardly-and are' bolted" at` 24" tothe lister or" middlebreaker bottom IIJ: A- bol-t liconnects `the centralportions Qfthe brace bars` 2 l `-together, as' 4best shown in Figure '1L y The frame b'ars IZ and'lS extenddownwardly and then"forward1y' underneath theftractor IE as best shown'in Figure-2 and' are connectedby preferably an angle member, which is secured to the tractor by a pair of vertical bars 3d and 35 the outer ends 3S and 31 of which extend laterally outwardly and are bolted as at 3&3 to the horizontal flange of the angle member 32. The upper ends of the bars 34, are bolted, as at 39, to the tractor.

and extend forwardly to a point on the tractor adjacent the front end. At this point, the draft rods lll and i2 may be secured directly to ther tractoror, if desired, a cushion spring hitch (not shown) may be utilized, in which case the bolts 39 serve as pivots accommodating generally fore and aft swinging movement of the bars Se and 35.v The intermediate portion of the tool beam or frame structure' is reenforced by a cross bar (Figure l) which has its ends bent rearwardly and bolted, as at 46, to the frame bars i2 and I3.

-The implement frame may be leveled b-y means of a lever 5| which is pivoted at 52 to a. bracket 53 rsecured to the left-hand frame bar |2. The lever 5| is connected by means of a link 55 to a bell crank 5t', one arm 57 of which extends Avertically and receives the forward end of the link 55 while the horizontal arm 58 thereof is pivotally connected by the bolt 3B to the swivel 3| (Figure 1). The intermediate portion of the 'bell cra-nk 55 is connected by a pivot bolt 59 to the forward part of the left-hand tool bar |2.- Suitable latching detent and sector. mechanism, indicated in Figure l by the. reference numeral 62, serves to secure the adjusting lever 5| in any position desired. Swinging the lever 5| forel and aft serves to shift the p-oint 59 in one direction or the other relative to the hitch point at the forward end of thel right-hand frame bar i3. Preferably,v the sector, forming a part'of the mechanism 82 referred to above, is extended downwardly to form the bracket 53, the sector being indicated by the reference numeral 5d in Figure 2. I

`According to the principles of the present invention, means is provided for gauging vthe depth of operation of the lister or middleb-reaker bottom l0, and associated with the gauging means is suitable mechanism operative through a first range of movement for raising or lowering the tool bar or frame relative to the gauging means and then operative through another range of movement for lifting both the tool frame and the gauging means outof their ground engaging position.

To this end each of the frame bars l2 and i3 carries a'bracket 10 which is secured to the associated frame bar by the bolts'i which fasten one endl ofthe cross bar 45 in place. kOne of these brackets is extended rearwardly, as at lila, to serve asa support for the sector S3 and the leveling lever 5|. Each bracket it carriesa ltransversely disposed bearing sleeve "li, and each sleeve receives the outwardly bent end lll of a crank axle '15, there being two such crank axles or links as shown in Figure l. The rear end of each of the'crank axles or links l5 is directed -laterally inwardly land receives a gauge wheel I1 and the lower end 'H3 of a generally vertically disposed link 19. The vupper end of each, link Draft rods 4| and A2 are bolted, as at G3, to the `vertical flange of the member 32 means, and the position of the links determine the operating positions of the gauging means. Preferably. the bars 82 `and 83 are bolted, as at i3?, to the plate 85. The latter also carries or has securely Xed thereto a second arm Siti which is longer than the arm or link 8| and also includes :a pair of bars 9| and S2 bolted, as at dit, Figure 2, to the plate 85 and flaring outwardly at their forward ends to receive a trunnion member 9E pivoted, as at iii, to the forward ends of the bars 9i and 92. The trunnion 93 is slidable on the upper end MH of ya strut 02, the lower end of which is pivoted by a bolt iil to a pair of angles |5 :and lEi '(Figure l) which are detach- 'i9 is connected by a pivot bolt 8B to an arm vor j link 8| (Figure 2) which consists of a pair of bars 32 and B3 (Figure l) diverging outwardly at their forward ends and fixed at their rear' ends to a plate 85 rigidly secured to a transverse rock shaft 86. The parts l5 thus serve as link means preventing longitudinal movement of the gauge ably connected to the lower portion of the rear axle housing by lcap screws ifi? or the like. The rear ends of the bracket angles |95 and tot convergeto receive the pivot bolt |83. The strut |02 is provided with a stop or flange mii which cooperates with the slidable trunnion S5 will be referred to below.` j

The transverse rock shaft issupported on the rear converging sections le., and i5 of thev frame bars l2 and lit byfme'ans of 'a pairof brackets HG and H5, preferably boite-d in place by the bolts 23 and additional bolts it. The bracket M5, as best shown in Figure 1,'has an elongated pipe or tubular member I@ secured thereto, as by welding, H9 or the like, and a sector |2| is welded `to theouter end of the rigid tubufrom Figure 2 that moving Athe lever |23 forwardly along the notches EN, exerts a downward thrust through the linker arm ci against the link 79, and hence raises the frame il rela-tive to the gauge wheels il. l

As best shown in Figure 3, when the lever |23 is moved .to the forwardmostnotch |21, the plow bottom lil is in a positi-on of shallowest adjustment, yet there is a sufficient Space S'between the slidable sleeve 96 and the stop liilltoV permit the tool to be gauged by the ground. When vthe lever |23 is moved forward an additional amount the block 96 engages the sto-p flange liii on the strut m2, and further movement of the lever then raises the tool into the position shown in Figure 4. During this movement, the members 8| and 'i9 approach Va--straight line relation, thereby serving as means inthe nature of ay toggle connection between the gauge wheels 'il and the tool frame H, the links 'E9 and Si approaching and passing into or through their straightline position, so that they are prevented from moving much farther downwardly relative to the frame structure ii, and hence as the frame is raised into its transport position with the plow bottom lil elevated above the ground, the gauge wheels Tl are also lifted out of engagement with the ground. However, the relations of the parts are such that the gauge wheels une at or just below the pointof the plow bottom i6, whereby when the outfit kmoves over r-oughground there is no danger of the plow point catching .on the ground; instead the'gauge wheels 'il would moasaar'ze l ot the implement, with both the plow bottom and` the gauging `means normallyv entirely out of. con-L` tact with the ground. While I haveshown the implement as supported from a tractor, which members, means connecting one withl the l gauging;

` means for adjusting the position ,thereofy relative.

thereby serves as ani' implement: frame for the tool beamstructure I l, it will ybe understood that any other suitable supporting means may be employed. l Further, itwill also be seen that the handlever |23 constitutes a part that is mounted on the tool beam structure `and acts through a given range of movement for adjusting the latter relative to the gauging means andthen through another range of movement `for raising both'the gauging means andthe tool means relative to the `tractor or other supporting frame means.- J While I have shown andvdescribedabove-the preferred structure in which `the principles of the present invention have beenincorporatved, it is to be understoodthat myinvention is `not to be" e limited to the particular means shown and described above, but that',` `in fact, different means may be employed in the practice `of the broader `aspects of my invention.

What I` claim, therefore,` and desire yto secure by Letters Patent is.

1.,An agricultural implement comprisingtool means adapted to be-raised and lowered, gauge means `for said tool means, al lever havingtwo` arms, means connected with one arm of said lever and operated by the latter through one range of `movement thereof `for shifting said gauge means relative to said tool means for gauging thel depth `of operation of the latter, and means connected l with the other arm of `said lever andfoperatedby tending link, whereby pivoted movement of said` said` lever through another range of movement thereof for raising both said tool means and said gauge means out of ground engaging position."

2. In an agricultural machine, means serving operatively connected therewith for `generally vertical movement, a` member pivotally connected tov said beam, and means connecting the other member with the frame whereby `,upon further movement of said operative means the latter reacts against the frame for raising `both said tool beam and said gauging means relative there- 'to out of contact with the ground.

. 4. In an agricultural implement adapted to be connected to a tractor, the combination of a generally longitudinally extending vertically swingable tool beam carrying ground engaging tool means, a gauge wheel adapted to traverse the surface of the ground for gauging. the depth of operation of said tool means, a pair of members operatively connecting said gauge. wheel with said tool beam, one of said members being pivoted to the tool beam andpivotal motion thereof acting through the other member to position the gauge Wheel relative to said tool means, lost motion means operatively connected between said tool beam and the tractor, and means for shifting said pair of members to move said gauge wheel relative to said -tool beam, said shifting means serving to take up the lost motion in saidy 10st motion connection, further movement of said shifting means acting against the tractor and through saidlost motion connection for raising said tool beam relative to the tractor, said members being disposed at such an angle relative to one another after the shifting means takes up said lost motion that thel movement of said shift- 6; The combination witha tractor, of a tool as an implement frame unit, a tool beam unit beam pivotally connected therewith, a ground l engaginggauge means movably connected with said 'tool beam, a swingable member, two parts movable 1therewith and arranged so that one part moves` through a greater extent than the other, means connecting said other part with said gauge means, and lost motion means connecting `said onepart withsaid tractor, whereby the first f movement "of said swingable member effects lng link means, asecond link means operatively` i connecting the outer end of said pivoted member with the gauge Wheel end of said forwardly venr-- pivoted member acts to adjust the .position` of said gauge Wheelrelative to said toolbeam` unit, ,a

i rockable member connectedto swingsaid pivoted member and `thereby adjust the position of-said gauge wheel; andmeans actuated by said rockmentioned means` including relatively movable parts extending betweensaid implement frame unit and said tool beam unit, the relative movement therebetween providing for adjusting movedepth adjustmeritA and further movement of said e swingable -means reacts against the tractor for .raisingboth the tool means and said gauge means out of ground engaging position.

7. An agricultural implement comprising means serving as an implement frame, a tool `60 `able member for raising bothsaid'tool beamunit l and said gauge wheel off [the ground, said last beam pivot-ally connected therewith,` a gauge Wheel movably connected with said toolI beam, a hand lever pivotally `mounted on said beam4 and having: two arms, means operatively connecting one arm Withsaid gauge Wheel for moving the latter` relative to tool beam to adjust the ment of said gauge wheel relative to said tool beamunit. `3. The combination with an agricultural implement having a frame, a tool beam, means'mov- `ably connecting saidfbeam" with said frame, and gauging" means movably connected"` with said beam, of means operatiye:tlfirough a givenfrange jof movement and" including Atwo `interconnected operating position'thereof, and means connecting the other army with said implement frame for raising b-oths'aid gauge Wheely and said tool beam relative vtofsaid frame.

`8. An agricultural implementf vcomprising `means serving as an implement frame, a .tool

9. An agricultural implement comprisingI means serving as a frame, a tool beam pivotally connected therewith, a gauge wheel, movably connected with said tool beam, a memberV pivotally connected with said tool beam and having means `serving as a pair of arms, said arms being angularly displaced relative to each other whereby one arm moves in advance of the other when said member swings about its pivot, said one arm being connected with said gauge wheel whereby movement of said member through a given range operates to adjust the position of the gauge wheel relative tothe tool beam, and means connected with said frame and having a lost motion connection with the other arm accommodating movement of said member to ad- CFI just the gauge wheel, furthermovernent or" said l member reacting through said second arm afterl the lost motion has been taken up for raising both said tool beam and said gauge wheel.

l0. An agricultural implement'v adapted to 'be attached to a tractor', comprising a tool beam adapted to be pivotally connected with the traci tor, `a lister bottom carried `b-y said tool beam, the latter consisting of a pair of generally longitudinally disposed members pivotally connected at their forward ends with the tractor, a pair of gauge wheels disposed adjacent the lister bottom at each side thereof, link means extending generally longitudinally of the tractor and connecting each gauge wheel with the associated frame member to accommodate general vertical movement of the gauge wheel relative thereto i and preventing generally longitudinal movement, a pair ci links pivotally connected at their lower ends with said gauge wheels, a rock shaft carried by said frame members, an arm fixed to said rock shaft and connected with said links, whereby rocking movement of said rock shaft positions said gauge wheels relative to said trame members, a second arm fixed to said rock shaft, a

bracket connected with the tractor, a strut pivctally connected at its lower end to said tractor carried bracket and having a stop adjacent its upper end, a sleeve member slidable on the upper portion of said strut above said stopfand pivotally-connected with said second arm, and means for rocking said rock shait, initial movement thereof acting through said iirst arm and said pair of links for raising said tool 'beam relative to the gauge wheels, and subsequent movement o? said rock shaft causing said second arm to react against the tractor through said strut and the stop thereon for raising both said tool beam. and said gauge wheels outof ground engaging position. Y

.y l1. An agricultural machine comprising means serving as a supporting frame, tool meansadapted to be raised and lowered relative to said frame means into and out of a transport position, means for `gauging the depth or" operation of said tool means, a member` movable through one range for adjusting said gauging means, and connections whereby said member is movable through another range for raising said tool means into transport position, said member including two arms movable in substantially xed relation, one arm being connected to adjust said gauging means and the other arm being operative to raisesai tool means into transport position. ,f

12. An agricultural machine, means serving'as an implement frame unit, a tool beam unit operatively connected therewith for generally vertical movement, tool means connected with said beam unit, a member movably connected with one of said units, gauge means movable with respect to said beam unitI for gauging the depth of operation ,of4 said tool means, anarm movable by said member, a link connectingsaid arm and tool unit and movable substantially into YStraight line relation with respect to said arm in one position of said movable member,A and means whereby movement of said movable member raises said tool means when said arm and link are insaid straight line relation.

13. The combination with an Vagricultural implement having a frame, a tool beam, means movably connecting said beam with said frame, and gauging means operable to control the operating depth of Asaidftool means, of means operative through a given range of movement and including two interconnected members, means connecting one with the.gauging`means for adjusting the position thereof relative to said beam, and means connecting the other member with the frame whereby upon further movement of said operative means the latterV reacts against the frame for raising both said tool beam and said gauging means relative thereto out of contact with the ground.

le. An agricultural implement comprising means serving as a frame, tool means shiftably connected. therewith, lever means having two spaced apart portions, one portion being connected with said tool means whereby movement of said lever means through one range serves to adjust the operating position of said tool means, and means connecting the other portion Voi said lever means with Said frame means so as to react against the latter, when said lever means moves through another range of movement, and raise said tool means out of contact with the ground.

15. In an agricultural implement, means serving as an implementv frame, tool means, means pivotally vconnecting said tool means with said frame means, gaugeV` means' movably connected with said. tool means,`movable means operative through two ranges means connecting saidk gauge means with said movable means whereby movement of the latter through one range serves vt'orfshi-ftlsaid gauge means relative to said tool means for said tool means, a lever having two arms, means connected with one arm of said lever and operated by the latter through one range of movement thereof for shifting said gauge means relative to said tool means for gauging the operating position of the latter, and meansvconnected with the other arm of said lever and operatedby said lever through another range of movement thereof for raising both said tool means and saidl gauge means out of operating position.

17. In an agricultural implement adapted to be connected to a tractor, the combination of a thegauge wheel relative to said tool means, lost `motion means operatively connected `between said tool beam and the tractor, and means for shifting said pair of members to move said gauge wheel relative to said tool beam, said shifting means serving to take up the lost `motion in said lost motion connection, further movement of said shifting means acting against the tractor and i through said lost motion connection for raising said tool beam relative to the tractor. i

18. In an agricultural implement radapted to be connected toa tractor,'the combination of a generally `longitudinally extending lvertically `swingable tool beam carrying ground engaging tool means, a gauge wheel adapted to traverse `the surface of thegroundior gauging the depth `of operation of said toolV means, a pair of memlbers `operatively connecting said gauge wheel with said tool beam, one of said members being pivoted tothe tool beam and pivotal motion thereof acting throughfthe other member to position the gauge rWheel `relative to said tool `meam, `lost `motion means operatively connected between said tool beam and the tractor and accommodating relative movement between the tool beam andthe tractor, and mechanism for shifting said one member, so as to move said gauge wheel relative to said tool beam, and taking up the lost motion in" said lost motion connection and then `acting therethrough for raising `the tool beam relative to the tractor.

19. In an agricultural implement adapted to be connected to a tractor, the combination of a generally longitudinally extending vertically swingable tool beam carrying ground engaging tool means, a gauge wheel adapted to traverse the` surface of the ground `for gauging theidepth ofop'eration of said tool means, a pair of members operatively connecting said gauge wheel with said `tool beam, one of said members being pivoted to the tool beam and pivotal motion thereof acting through the other member to'position the tion means operatively connected between said tool vbeam and the tractor and accommodating movement of the tool beam resulting from movement of said one member when disposing the gauge wheel in different operating positions, and means acting through said lostmotion'means for into a straightline position when the tool means approaches one of its end operating positions, and means operatedby movement of one of said `partswhen the latter approach said straight line `.gauge wheel relative to said tool means, lost moposition for raising said tool means into an inoperative position. i

21. In an agricultural implement adapted to be connected to a tractor, the combination of a generally longitudinally extending vertically swingable toolbeam carrying ground engaging tool means, a gauge Wheel adapted to traverse the surface of the ground for gauging the depth of operation of said tool means, means for moving said gauge wheel relative to said tool means for adjusting the depth of` operation thereof, an arm movable with said means, a strut pivotally connected at its lower end to said tractor and having a stop adjacent its upper end, a sleeve .member slidable on the upper portion of said strut above said stop, and means connecting said arm with said sleeve whereby movement of said gauge Wheel moving means causes said arm to` react against the tractor through said strut and the stop thereon for raising both said tool beam and said gauge Wheel out of ground engaging position.

22. An agricultural implement adapted to be attached to a tractor, comprising a tool ybeam adapted to be pivotally connected with the `tractor, a lister bottom carried by said tool beam, the latter consisting of a pair of generally longitudinally disposed beam members pivotally connected at their forward ends with the tractor, a pair of gauge wheels disposed adjacent the lister bottom `at each side thereof, link means `extending generally longitudinally of the tractor and connecting` each gauge Wheel 4with the associated beam member to accommodate general vertical movement ofthe gauge wheel relative thereto and preventing generally longitudinal movement, a pair of links pivotally connected at their lower ends with said gauge wheels, a rockshaft carried by said beam members, and an arm xed to said rockshaft and connected with said links, whereby rocking movement of said rockshaftpositions said gauge wheels relative to said beam"V members. i

23. An agricultural implement `adaptedto be attached to a tractor, comprising a tool lbeam adapted to be pivotally connected with the tractor, a list-er bottom carried by said tool beam, the

latter consisting of a pairof generally longitudinally disposed members pivotally connected at their forward ends with the tractor, a pair of gauge Wheels disposed adjacent the lister bottom at each side thereof, means movably connecting the gauge wheels with the beam members, respectively, and a rockshaft carried by said frame members and connected with both c!" saidgauge wheels for raising and lowering the latter.

24. An agricultural machine comprising means serving as a supporting frame, tool means adapted torberaised and lowered relative to saidfrarneA `means into and out of a'transport position,`means for gauging the depth of operation of said tool means, anda member movable through one range for adjusting said gauging means, and movable through another range for raising both the 'said tool means and the gauging means into transport position, connections whereby movement of said movable member through said other range raises both `said tool means and the gauging means, said member includingrmeans serving as two arms of unequal length, the shorter being connected to adjust` said gauging means and the longer operative to raise both the tool means and the gauging means.

, t WALTER H. SILVER.. 

